Barrier Against Crawling Pests

ABSTRACT

A barrier for preventing a crawling pest from climbing up furniture includes a disk which is placed under a furniture leg. A tube surrounds the furniture leg and sits on the disk, and the tube consists of a material which is unscalable by the crawling pest. The inner surface of the tube and/or the portion of the disk surface within the tube can be provided with adhesive to trap the crawling pest if it manages to climb up the tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/458,791, filed on Jul. 20, 2006, by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a barrier for a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various articles of furniture including beds, tables and cabinets are provided with legs which are arranged to firmly position the respective article of furniture on a floor or other surface. The legs are sometimes used by creatures such as arachnids and other crawling insects to access the portion of an article of furniture which is held in an elevated position by the corresponding legs. For example, scorpions have been known to climb up the legs of cribs onto the mattresses and sting children confined in the cribs.

To prevent insects from climbing up furniture legs, it has been proposed in Great Britain Patent Specification 647,301 to form an annular trough in a furniture leg and to fill the trough with an insect repellent or a poison. A dome-shaped cap is mounted on the leg above the trough and extends downward to a level slightly below that of the trough. The cap is intended to function as a barrier for insects which manage to pass through the trough. However, the “annular trough and inverted bowl” design requires that furniture legs be modified or retrofitted in order to utilize this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention resides in an arrangement for inhibiting access to an elevated portion of an article of furniture by a selected species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects. The arrangement comprises a leg supporting the elevated portion of the article of furniture, and the arrangement further comprises a barrier for the selected species. The furniture leg has a lower end and the barrier includes a tubular member which encircles the lower end of the leg. The tubular member has opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface which is unscalable by the selected species. The outer peripheral surface can, for example, comprise a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, and siliconized plastic.

The tubular member further has a longitudinal axis extending from one end of the tubular member to the other, and the longitudinal axis is advantageously linear. The tubular member additionally has an end face at each end thereof, and at least one of these end faces can be essentially flat and located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The tubular member is preferably of constant cross section.

The tubular member also has an inner peripheral surface, and the inner peripheral surface may be provided with adhesive for bonding the selected species to the tubular member. It is preferred for the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member to be free of adhesive.

The tubular member is advantageously transparent.

The barrier for the selected species can further include a base designed to be placed on a supporting surface, e.g., a floor, and to hold the furniture leg at a level above the supporting surface. When the base is employed, the lower end of the furniture leg rests on the base. The base preferably comprises a palpably resilient material. The base may be provided with adhesive designed to bond the tubular member to the base and to permit removal of the tubular member from the base while maintaining the tubular member substantially free of damage.

The tubular member has a passage extending from one end of the tubular member to the other, and the base can be provided with adhesive arranged to be in alignment with the passage when the tubular member rests on the base with one end thereof contacting the base. Such adhesive is intended to bond the selected species to the base.

The base has an outer periphery and an upwardly directed surface which faces the tubular member when the tubular member rests on the base. The base may further have a lip at the outer periphery projecting beyond the upwardly directed surface to confine the tubular member.

Another aspect of the invention resides in a method of inhibiting access to an elevated portion of an article of furniture by a selected species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects. The article of furniture includes a leg which supports the elevated portion of the article of furniture, and the furniture leg has a lower end. The method comprises the steps of providing a tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface unscalable by the selected species, and placing the lower end of the furniture leg in the tubular member.

The method can further comprise the steps of providing a base, placing the base on a surface and positioning the tubular member on the base.

The method may also comprise the steps of bonding the tubular member to the base and removing the tubular member from the base while maintaining the tubular member substantially free of damage.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partly fragmentary vertical sectional view showing an article of furniture having a leg which rests on a support and also showing one embodiment of a barrier for inhibiting access to the article of furniture by an arachnid and/or a crawling insect.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pad forming part of another embodiment of the barrier.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the barrier plus a sectional view of the furniture leg of FIG. 1 and a fragmentary plan view of the support of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pad constituting part of an additional embodiment of the barrier plus a sectional view of the furniture leg of FIG. 1 and a fragmentary plan view of the support of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the pad of FIG. 4 supporting a tube which also forms part of the additional embodiment of the barrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 identifies a support for an article of furniture 12. The support 10, which is here assumed to be a floor but could also be a patio, a deck or the ground, has an upper surface 14 which constitutes a supporting surface for the furniture article 12.

The furniture article 12 includes a plurality of legs of which one is visible in FIG. 1 and is denoted by the numeral 16. The furniture article 12 further includes an elevated portion 18 which is carried, and held at a level above the upper supporting surface 14, by the furniture leg 16 as well as by the remaining, non-illustrated legs of the furniture article 12. The furniture legs, including the leg, 16, each have a lower end which rests on the upper supporting surface 14, and the elevated portion 18 of the furniture article 12 is attached to each of the furniture legs at a location above the respective lower end.

The term “leg” herein means a member which carries a portion of a furniture article and holds such portion at a level above a supporting surface on which the furniture article rests.

The furniture article 12 is here assumed to be a crib for a child, and the elevated portion 18 of the furniture article 12 comprises a generally horizontal, rectangular board 20 mounted inside a rectangular, frame-like member 22. A mattress 24 rests on the board 20. The furniture article 12 further comprises an enclosure designed to prevent a child from climbing out of the crib 12, and the enclosure includes four sections 26 (only one of the sections 26 is visible in the drawings) which respectively run along the four sides of the frame-like member 22. The crib 12 is typical of most cribs in that each enclosure section 26 includes a series of spaced, vertical slats 28 which are separated from one another by a distance too small for a child to squeeze himself or herself between adjoining slats 28 and out of the crib 12. One of the enclosure sections 26 may be vertically slidable between an uppermost position in which a child is unable to climb over the slidable enclosure section 26 and a lowermost position in which the slidable enclosure section 26 can be scaled by a child. Movement of the slidable enclosure section 26 to the lowermost position is intended to facilitate removal of a child from the crib 12.

A barrier to the crib leg 16 inhibits or prevents access to the elevated portion 18 of the crib 12 by one or more species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects. For simplicity, the following description will refer to scorpions with the understanding that this is but one of the species to which the invention is applicable. Furthermore, while the following description will be with reference to the crib leg 16, the description applies to each of the non-illustrated legs of the crib 12 as well.

The barrier comprises a tube or tubular member 30 having a lower end which rests on the upper supporting surface 14 of the floor 10. The tube 30 further has an upper end which is spaced from and disposed opposite the lower end thereof, and the lower end and upper end of the tube 30 constitute opposed longitudinal ends of the tube 30. The lower end and upper end of the tube 30 are open, and the tube 30 defines a passage 32 which extends from one of the open ends of the tube 30 to the other and is designed to receive the crib leg 16. The crib leg 16 extends downward through the upper end of the tube 30 to the lower end thereof.

The tube 30 is here in the form of an annulus, that is, the tube 30 is here an unbroken or circumferentially complete ring of circular cross section. However, the annular member of the invention may be geometrically diverse in cross section (e.g., triangular, square, hexagonal, irregular polygon, etc.), i.e., the tube 30 is not limited to a circular cylinder.

The tube 30 has a longitudinal axis 34 which runs from the lower end of the tube 30 to the upper end of the tube 30, and the longitudinal axis 34 is straight or linear. The lower end of the tube 30 is provided with a lower end face 36 which contacts the supporting surface 14 of the floor 10 while the upper end of the tube 30 is provided with an upper end face 38 which is directed away from the supporting surface 14. The end faces 36,38 are advantageously flat and located in respective planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 34 of the tube 30. When the supporting surface 14 is flat, this design allows the tube 30 to sit on the supporting surface 14 with no gaps between the tube 30 and the supporting surface 14 regardless of which end face 36,38 contacts the supporting surface 14. An absence of gaps between the tube 30 and the supporting surface 14 prevents scorpions from entering the tube 30 at the junction of the tube 30 and the supporting surface 14.

The outer cross-sectional area of the tube 30 is preferably constant. The tube 30 has an outer peripheral surface 40 and, in the event that the outer cross-sectional area of the tube 30 is constant, the outer peripheral surface 40 is perpendicular to the supporting surface 14 of the floor 10 when the lower end face 36 of the tube 30 and the supporting surface 14 are flat.

The cross-sectional area of the passage 32 in the tube 30, that is, the inner cross-sectional area of the tube 30, can also be constant as illustrated.

The tube 30 is composed of a material which makes the outer peripheral surface 40 of the tube 30 unscalable by scorpions. Thus, the material for the tube 30 is selected so that scorpions are unable to grip and climb the outer peripheral surface 40. Examples of materials which make the outer peripheral surface 40 unscalable by scorpions are glass, polycarbonate, and siliconized plastic.

The tube 30 has an inner peripheral surface 42, and the entire inner peripheral surface 42 is advantageously coated with a layer of adhesive 44. The adhesive 44 is intended to bond a scorpion to the tube 30 should the scorpion manage to make its way over the outer peripheral surface 40 of the tube 30 to the inner peripheral surface 42 and attempt to climb down the inner peripheral surface 42.

The outer peripheral surface 40 of the tube is preferably free of adhesive.

The tube 30 and the adhesive 44 on the internal peripheral surface 42 thereof circumscribe the portion of the crib leg 16 inside the tube 30, and the adhesive 44 is free of contact with the crib leg 16. Thus, the adhesive 44 and the portion of the crib leg 16 confined in the passage 32 together define a gap 46 around the entire periphery of the confined portion of the crib leg 16. The width of the gap 46 at any location of the same is such that the crib leg 16 is out of the reach of a scorpion which has managed to reach the upper end face 38 of the tube 30 or the adhesive 44.

It is preferred for the tube 30 to be transparent. If the tube 30 is transparent, inspection of the interior of the tube 30 is facilitated.

The tube 30, as well as the crib leg 16, each constitute part of an arrangement for inhibiting or preventing access to the elevated portion 18 of the crib 12 by scorpions.

The barrier for the crib leg 16 can consist of the tube 30 alone or of the tube 30 plus the adhesive 44 on the internal peripheral surface 42 of the tube 30. However, it is also possible for the barrier to additionally include a pad or base 48 shown in FIG. 2.

The pad 48 of FIG. 2 is in the form of a circular disk having an upper major surface 50 and an opposite lower major surface which is not visible in the drawings. When the disk 48 is employed, the disk 48 is placed on the floor 10 with the non-illustrated lower major surface of the disk 48 resting on the supporting surface 14 and the upper major surface 50 facing upward. The lower end of the crib leg 16, as well as the tube 30, are placed on the upper major surface 50, and the disk 48 then supports the crib leg 16 and the tube 30 at a level above that of the supporting surface 14. The lower end of the crib leg 16 may be centered on the upper major surface 50.

The outer diameter of the disk 48 is equal or approximately equal to the outer diameter of the tube 30, and the tube 30 is positioned on the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48 so that the outer peripheral surface 40 of the tube 30 is flush or almost flush with the edge of the disk 48. The upper major surface 50 is preferably provided with an annular layer of adhesive 52 which extends inward from the edge of the disk 48 by a distance equal or approximately equal to the thickness of the tube 30, i.e., the adhesive 52 extends inward by a distance equal or approximately equal to the distance between the outer peripheral surface 40 and the inner peripheral surface 42 of the tube 30. The adhesive 52 then has a size and shape identical or almost identical to the size and shape of the end faces 36,38 of the tube 30. When the tube 30 is placed on the disk 48, the tube 30 is arranged in such a manner that one of the end faces 36,38 contacts and is superimposed on the adhesive 52.

The adhesive 52 bonds the tube 30 to the disk 48 thereby inhibiting or preventing relative movement of the tube 30 and the disk 48, and the adhesive 52 functions to retain the tube 30 on the disk 48. The adhesive 52 is of a type which allows the tube 30 to be separated from the disk 48 without damaging the tube 30. Accordingly, when the disk 48 becomes worn, damaged or soiled, the tube 30 can be removed from the disk 48 and the latter discarded. The tube 30 may thereafter be mounted on a fresh disk 48 and reused. Alternatively, the tube 30 and disk 48 of FIG. 2 comprise a one-piece bowl in some embodiments of the invention in which durability is of more concern than the advantages described above for the two-piece embodiments.

The adhesive 52 can be replaced by hook-and-loop material. Under such circumstances, both end faces 36,38 of the tube 30 are provided with either hook portions or loop portions. The disk 48 is formed with a hook portion if the end faces 36,38 are provided with loop portions whereas the disk 48 is formed with a loop portion if the end faces 36,38 are provided with hook portions.

It is preferred for the disk 48 to be palpably resilient and the disk 48 can, for instance, be made of palpably resilient plastic. The term “palpably resilient” means that a material can undergo elastic deformation of sufficient magnitude to be detected by a human without the use of instruments, i.e., the material can deform to a degree which is detectable by a human without the use of instruments and can thereafter return to an undeformed state.

The tube 30, disk 48 and the crib leg 16 each constitute part of an arrangement for inhibiting or preventing access to the elevated portion 18 of the crib 12 by scorpions.

Considering FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are used to identify similar elements.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pad 48 on the floor 10 with the crib leg 16 resting on the pad 48 centrally of the latter and the tube 30 bonded to the annular layer of adhesive 52 running along the periphery of the pad 48. The inner peripheral surface 42 of the tube 30 is again coated with the adhesive 44. The upper major surface 50 of the pad 48 is here provided with an additional layer of adhesive 54 which extends inward from the adhesive 52 towards the center of the pad 48. The adhesive 54, which is intended to bond scorpions, is aligned with the passage 32 in the tube 30 and presents another opportunity to stop a scorpion from reaching the crib leg 16 when the scorpion has managed to get by the tube 30 and the adhesive 44.

In FIG. 3, the additional layer of adhesive 54 is annular and extends only partway from the adhesive 52 on the disk 48 to the center of the disk 48. Thus, a circular central region of the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48 is uncoated by adhesive, and the lower end of the crib leg 16 rests in this central region.

It is possible to coat the central region of the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48 with adhesive. Since the crib leg 16 will then be bonded to the disk 48, the adhesive for the central region should be selected to permit separation of the crib leg 16 from the disk 48 without damaging the crib leg 16.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-3 are used to identify similar elements except that the disk is denoted by 148 and the upper major surface of the disk 148 is denoted by 150.

The disk 148 of is formed with an annular rim or lip 56 which runs circumferentially of the disk 148 along the periphery of the disk 148. The rim 56 projects from the side of the disk 148 containing the upper major surface 150 of the disk 148, and the rim 56 encircles the upper major surface 150 and is perpendicular thereto. The inner diameter of the rim 56 is at least equal to the outer diameter of the tube 30 so that the tube 30 can be placed inside the rim 56 with an end face 36,38 of the tube 30 resting on the upper major surface 150. The inner diameter of the rim 56 is advantageously such that the tube 30 can be placed inside the rim 56 without difficulty but has little freedom of movement after being inserted in the rim 56.

The rim 56 functions to confine the tube 30 and to retain the latter on the disk 148. Since the rim 56 holds the tube 30 on the disk 148, the adhesive 52 employed in FIGS. 2 and 3 to bond the tube 30 to the disk 48 can be eliminated. In FIG. 5, the adhesive 52 is omitted and the end face 36 of the tube 30 rests directly on the upper major surface 150 of the disk 148. Alternatively, the tube and disk may be adapted for threaded engagement with each other (not shown).

The annular layer of adhesive 54 in FIGS. 4 and 5 is spaced from the rim 56 by an annular gap 58 having a width at least equal to the wall thickness of the tube 30 plus the thickness of the adhesive 44 on the internal peripheral surface 42 of the tube 30. The annular gap 58 is intended to prevent the tube 30 from bonding to the adhesive 54 when the tube 30 is disposed inside the rim 56. Once the tube 30 has been properly positioned inside the rim 56, the adhesive 54 registers with the passage 32 in the tube 30.

The rim 56 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is circumferentially complete or unbroken. However, the rim 56 could also be divided into two or more sections which are spaced from one another circumferentially of the disk 148 and are arranged to confine the tube 30.

Although the tube 30 and the disks 48,148 are shown as having circular cross sections, the tube 30 and disks 48,148 may have other cross sections, e.g., polygonal cross sections.

Installation of a barrier in accordance with the invention is simple and is described below. Since the adhesive 44 on the internal peripheral surface 42 of the tube 30, as well as the adhesive 52 on the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48 and the adhesive 54 on the upper major surfaces 50,150 of the disks 48,148, will typically be applied during manufacture, the following description assumes this to be the case. Accordingly, reference to the tube 30 will mean the tube 30 plus the adhesive 44, reference to the disk 48 will mean the disk 48 plus the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54, and reference to the disk 148 will mean the disk 148 plus the adhesive 54. However, it is to be understood that the adhesive 44 and the adhesive 54 can be omitted and that the adhesive 52 can be replaced with another attachment means which permits the tube 30 to be separated from the disk 48 without damaging the tube 30. Furthermore, it is entirely conceivable for a user of a barrier in accordance with the invention to apply the adhesive 44, the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54 himself or herself. If the disk 48 is supplied to a user without the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54, the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48 may be provided with outlines delineating the areas to be covered by the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54. A similar outline for the adhesive 54 may be provided on the upper major surface 150 of the disk 148. Such outlines can function as a guide to a user applying the adhesive 52 to the disk 48 and the adhesive 54 to the disks 48,148.

Assuming that a barrier to the crib leg 16 is to consist of the tube 30 without the disk 48,148, the tube 30 is placed on the floor 10 near the crib leg 16 with one of the end faces 36,38 of the tube 30 resting on the supporting surface 14. The crib leg 16 is lifted to a height exceeding that of the tube 30 and aligned with the passage 32 of the tube 30. The crib leg 16 is then lowered into the passage 32 so that the lower end of the crib leg 16 comes into contact with the supporting surface 14. The tube 30 and/or the crib leg 16 can be shifted should the crib leg 16 be offset from the center of the tube 30 and it is desired to position the crib leg 16 centrally of the tube 30.

If a barrier to the crib leg 16 is to include the tube 30 plus the disk 48, one of the end faces 36,38 of the tube 30 is placed in register with and pressed against the adhesive 52 on the disk 48. The disk 48 with the attached tube 30 is placed on the floor 10 near the crib leg 16 with the non-illustrated, lower major surface of the disk 48 resting on the supporting surface 14. The crib leg 16 is lifted to a height which exceeds the thickness of the disk 48 plus the height of the tube 30, and the crib leg 16 is thereupon aligned with the passage 32 of the tube 30. The crib leg 16 is now lowered into the passage 32 so that the lower end of the crib leg 16 comes into contact with the upper major surface 50 of the disk 48. The disk 48 and/or the crib leg 16 can be shifted should the crib leg 16 be offset from the center of the tube 30 and it is desired to position the crib leg 16 centrally of the tube 30.

Should the disk 48 become worn, damaged or soiled, the crib leg 16 is removed from the tube 30. The tube 30 is thereafter separated from the disk 48 and the latter is discarded. The tube 30 can be reused since the adhesive 52 is of a type which allows the tube 30 to be separated from the disk 48 without damaging the tube 30. Accordingly, the tube 30 is bonded to a fresh disk 48 and the crib leg 16 reinserted in the tube 30.

When using a barrier which comprises the disk 148, one of the end faces 36,38 of the tube 30 is inserted in the rim 56 of the disk 148 and brought into contact with the upper major surface 150 of the disk 148. The disk 148, together with the tube 30 mounted thereon, is placed on the floor 10 near the crib leg 16 with the non-illustrated, lower major surface of the disk 148 resting on the supporting surface 14. The crib leg 16 is lifted to a height which exceeds the thickness of the disk 148 plus the height of the tube 30, and the crib leg 16 is then aligned with the passage 32 of the tube 30. The crib leg 16 is subsequently lowered into the passage 32 and the lower end of the crib leg 16 brought into contact with the upper major surface 150 of the disk 148. The disk 148 and/or the crib leg 16 can be shifted should the crib leg 16 be offset from the center of the tube 30 and it is desired to position the crib leg 16 centrally of the tube 30.

If the disk 148 becomes worn, damaged or soiled, the crib leg 16 is lifted out of the tube 30. The tube 30 is thereafter pulled from the disk 148 which is discarded. A fresh disk 148 is supplied and the tube 30 is mounted on the fresh disk 148. The crib leg 16 can now be reinserted in the tube 30.

One or more tubes 30 and one or more disks 48,148 can be supplied together as a kit. A few examples of the numerous possible varieties of kits are listed below:

A. One tube 30 without the adhesive 44; one disk 48 without the adhesive 52 and without the adhesive 54 but with outlines of the areas to be covered by the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54; one package of adhesive.

B. One tube 30 with the adhesive 44; one disk 48 with the adhesive 52.

C. One tube 30 without the adhesive 44; one tube 30 with the adhesive 44; a plurality of disks 48 without the adhesive 52 and without the adhesive 54 but with outlines of the areas to be covered by the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54; a plurality of disks 48 with the adhesive 52 and the adhesive 54; a plurality of packages of adhesive.

D. One tube 30 without the adhesive 44; one disk 148 without the adhesive 54 but with an outline of the area to be covered by the adhesive 54; one package of adhesive.

E. One tube 30 with the adhesive 44; one disk 148 with the adhesive 54.

F. One tube 30 without the adhesive 44; one tube 30 with the adhesive 44; a plurality of disks 148 without the adhesive 54 but with outlines of the areas to be covered by the adhesive 54; a plurality of disks 148 with the adhesive 54; a plurality of packages of adhesive.

A barrier in accordance with the invention is safe for children and pets since it is non-toxic.

Various modifications are possible within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims. 

1. A barrier for a species of scorpion, said barrier comprising: a base adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and to hold a furniture leg at a level above the supporting surface; and a tubular member adapted to rest on said base and to receive the furniture leg, said tubular member having at least one open end and an outer peripheral surface, and said outer peripheral surface being unscalable by said species of scorpion, wherein said furniture leg and said tubular member together define a gap around the entire periphery of said furniture leg and wherein said outer peripheral surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, and siliconized plastic.
 2. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal axis extending from one of said ends to the other of said ends, said axis being substantially linear.
 3. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has a substantially constant cross section and is formed in one-piece arrangement with said base.
 4. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has an end face at said at least one open end, said end face being substantially flat and located in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis.
 5. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has an inner peripheral surface, said inner peripheral surface being provided with adhesive designed to bond said species of scorpion to said tubular member.
 6. The barrier of claim 5, wherein said outer peripheral surface is substantially free of adhesive.
 7. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member is substantially transparent.
 8. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a palpably resilient material.
 9. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said base is provided with adhesive designed to bond said tubular member to said base and to permit removal of said tubular member from said base while maintaining said tubular member substantially free of damage.
 10. The barrier of claim 1, wherein said tubular member is in one-piece arrangement with said base. 